JACKSONVILLE, Fla. -- Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Florida announced on Tuesday their plan to help with one of the biggest problems in Florida -- the lack of registered nurses.

They donated more than a $1 million to the University of Florida and the University of North Florida's nursing programs. The bulk of the money will go toward training new nurses.

Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Florida donated $600,000 to of the each university, in an effort to address critical issues in nursing education.

The state of Florida said it will match each gift at $420,000.

UNF and UF were also awarded a $1.2 million SUCCEED grant funds from the state to increase the number of nurses who enter Florida’s workforce.

"This is will allow us to bring in more nursing students. We literally have to turn away five qualified nursing applicants for each one we take. And wtih the incredible need in all the hospitals and doctor's offices across the state, it's rediculous that we have to do that," said UNF President John Delaney.

The nursing shortage in Florida, currently estimated at 34,000 and projected to hit 61,000 by the year 2020, has had a negative impact on the quality and availability of health care.

In 2004, Northeast Florida hospitals reported that more than 8 percent of nursing positions remained vacant, the same as the statewide average for registered nurse vacancies, according to the Florida Hospital Association.

Hospital studies show that patient care declines and health care costs increase when there is a nurse shortage. The Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Florida gift, combined with matching dollars from the state legislature, is a significant step they hope will expand the education system and generate more nurses to meet the increasing demand.

“We deeply appreciate the profound generosity of Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Florida,” Delaney said.

Sally Gowette, a registered nurse for 20 years, said as the years have gone by her job has become more stressful because of the increasing patient-to-nurse ratio.

"It gets frustrating when we want to give a certain quality of care, but there is only one of us and there are four patients that are ill," Gowette said.

Gowette, who is studying to become a nurse practitioner at the University of Florida, said the nursing shortage is not because of a lack of students interested, but the lack of professors.

"I think a lot of my peers are trying to get into BSN programs, but they can't because they're so full. There are just not enough instructors," Gwoette said.

Wednesday's donations will help inflate the instructors at both schools, thus releasing the pressure of the nursing shortage across the state.

Joe Dunn, a senior UNF nursing student, said more instructors will lead to more RNs and ultimately better patient care -- the No. 1 concern of a registered nurse.

"This grant is going to get the nursing educators there that will fill the class seats. Right now, they just can't train that many," Dunn said. "If you can get the nursing ratio up to meet the patient's needs, the quality of care should rise also."

UF president Bernard Machen said the university is happy to be able to collaborate with the UNF and Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Florida to increase the number of well-educated nurses and ultimately improve health care for all Floridians.

“We recognize how important collaboration is to achieve meaningful progress in easing the nursing shortage,” said Dr. Robert I. Lufrano, chairman and chief executive officer of Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Florida.

Officials from both university agreed that while the donations are not a cure-all for the nursing shortage, it is a major step in the right direction.